What a fun series! And it was made all the more enjoyable by listening to Dan LeBatard and his cohorts talk about the Heat as if they had already been crowned champions weeks ago. I can't wait to listen to this week's podcasts.

I have never been happier for a non-NY team to win a title in my life. I am sure eventually my favotire championships will go back to the 1986 Mets, the Giants Super Bowl wins and the Islanders dynasty run of 4 Stanley Cups, but for right now, I could not be happier.

And I anxiously await the excuses from the Heat. And, I hope that Riley sees the heat played their best basketball tonight with LeBron on the bench and trades him to Orlando for Howard so LeBron nevers sees another title shot again.

What image is more damning: LeBron fighting back tears as he enters the locker room or Bosh openly bawling as he entered the locker room?

Some of the tweets from the usual talking heads are noting that Miami will be back, as they'll have the cap space and everything else they need to put together...you know, an actual TEAM. I say "nuts to that". Sure, Miami can pick up some more guys, but by that point, Chicago will be ready to make their leap to the next level and Boston will be retooled and reloaded in the east, while over in the west, the Lakers will be ready to avenge their gag job of a loss, OKC will be making THEIR big leap, and Memphis will be ready to shock the world with a top 3 seed. There is NO reason to assume that Miami will win a championship. Will they? Maybe. But no one should be making that assumption.

I will say this, though. As much as I crack about Miami consisting of three superstars and a bunch of guys they grabbed from the scrap heap, I will fully admit that Mario Chalmers showed me a lot. He was fantastic throughout the postseason and he deserves a huge pat on the back for making more of a dent against Dallas than LeBron ever did.

And does anyone else feel really sorry for Juwan Howard?

EDIT: Mark Cuban on SportsCenter "Our fans just pumped the SHIT out of the Miami fans!" As Kornheiser would say, "Live TV, baby, ain't nothing like it."

And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this snippet from Simmons' column last Thursday:

Originally posted by Bill Simmons' 6/12 columnDwyane Wade's "Eff You" 3: We're one Dallas win away from that becoming an iconic "don't count your chickens before they hatch" sports moment. You can't do that crap unless you know, with absolute certainty, that the series is over. For instance, Larry Legend iced the '86 Rockets in Game 6 by grabbing a loose ball with the shot clock winding down, dribbling through three people just so he could plant himself in front of Houston's bench, then draining a 3 with his ass in their faces. Game over. That's when you do it. Wade jumped the gun. If they lose, he will never live it down.

I heard that LeBatard was making any number of remarks prematurely anointing the Heat, but surely he wasn't the only ESPN personality doing so. I forget whom, but one of ESPN Radio's late night personalities, as far back as the late stages of the Chicago series, proclaimed that the Heat officially lost its last game of the playoffs and that it was all formality from there. I'm guessing Dirk, Jason and Jason didn't get that memo.

Oooooooh, Ahhhhhh, Eeeeeee, Yaaaaaaaaa, Grrrrrrrrr, you son of a oh, eeeeeeee, and that's how we shave. -Homer Simpson

Congratulations and much respect to Dallas, and thanks to everyone for a thrilling series.

Originally posted by WpobAnd I anxiously await the excuses from the Heat. And, I hope that Riley sees the heat played their best basketball tonight with LeBron on the bench and trades him to Orlando for Howard so LeBron nevers sees another title shot again.

Considering that Lebron was part of what got them this far when you consider they had to go through strong teams in the Bulls and Celtics, I couldnt agree with you.

Add to that the fact that it wasnt "their best basketball"... it was embarassingly sloppy basketball (especially in this final game).

I still stand by my newfound fandom of Mario Chalmers though.

Originally posted by It's FalseI will say this, though. As much as I crack about Miami consisting of three superstars and a bunch of guys they grabbed from the scrap heap, I will fully admit that Mario Chalmers showed me a lot. He was fantastic throughout the postseason and he deserves a huge pat on the back for making more of a dent against Dallas than LeBron ever did.(edited by It's False on 12.6.11 2040)

Wasnt he though?! And you're right... even I've been wrong in assuming the Heat are guaranteed a championship whether it be next year or any year.

Originally posted by LinearROI heard that LeBatard was making any number of remarks prematurely anointing the Heat, but surely he wasn't the only ESPN personality doing so. I forget whom, but one of ESPN Radio's late night personalities, as far back as the late stages of the Chicago series, proclaimed that the Heat officially lost its last game of the playoffs and that it was all formality from there. I'm guessing Dirk, Jason and Jason didn't get that memo.

As a resident of one of the cities thrown under the bus for the "Three Kings" to circle jerk each other, it was fantastic and sweet to see. They made themselves villains, and in a strange way that's a gift, because I haven't been this into basketball in quite a few years. I figure Bosh is history soon, since he's really irrelevant in his role. He's basically a vastly inferior version of Wade. Lebron has no character, has proven that multiple times, and will never be a leader. While I wouldn't rule out this team winning a championship in the future, I don't forsee a dynasty.

"Because at the end of the day, all the people that were rooting for me to fail, they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life that they had before they woke up today. They have the same personal problems they had today. I'm going to continue to live the way I want to live and continue to do the things that I want to do with me and my family and be happy with that."

Wow.

(edited by whatever on 13.6.11 0618)

"As you may have read in Robert Parker's Wine Newsletter, 'Donaghy Estates tastes like the urine of Satan, after a hefty portion of asparagus.'" Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock

Only problem with the Mavericks winning in 6 was it prevented the NBA from spinning how they weren't going to suspend LeBron for Game 7. He changed directions to get into the altercation while he wasn't in the game, if they suspended Amare for getting 1 foot off the bench a few years ago, they were going to have to get cute not to suspend LeBron.3 straight years LeBron gets bounced with home court in a series, last 2 after having a 2 games to 1 lead and then demonstrating severe struggles in multiple games.

How is it that a very sick Michael Jordan can score 38 points in a Finals game and lead his team to victory whereas a healthy LeBron James scores less than 3 points a game in the fourth quarter?

Until LeBron James develops the killer instinct to do what is necessary in the Finals, he really can't be compared to Michael Jordan (Pippen was definitely off his rocker when he tweeted how much better LBJ is compared to his former hall-of-fame teammate).

Congrats to the Mavs though; Dirk (and Kidd) now have cemented their future hall of fame careers with Dallas' first NBA title.

JT, the numbers obviously bear out your side of the argument, but what I'd have to say TAS was getting at was that it seemed that last year Bryant seemed to get most of his points late, when the Spurs had gotten a little breathing room.